(57) Disclosed is a video encoder and a method for coding a video data frame. The encoder
of a video encoder checks overall capacity of video data frames to be encoded, and
predicts the number of the P frames which are to be subsequently encoded according
to the checked overall capacity by using mean capacity of P frames extracted from
a previous GOP. The number of frames that will be skipped due to an overflow of a
buffer is computed from the predicted number of the P frames according to available
capacity of the buffer. The position of those frames that will be skipped is set not
to be continuous according to the predicted number of the P frames and to the number
of frames of the GOP. Furthermore, while coding of the video data frames is being
performed, a video data frame chosen to be currently encoded is arranged in the same
position as a frame to be skipped is arranged, coding of the video data frame is skipped.
Herein, the skipped frames are determined, from among the video data frames, from
I frames which become reference frames of other video data frames, or from P frames,
except a first P frame, which becomes a reference frame of another video data frame.
Accordingly, while essential reference frames (i.e., I and P frames) are being prevented
from being skipped, consecutive frame skips are also prevented from occurring, and
therefore the overall quality of pictures can be prevented from being degraded.
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